Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 603. A. L. ADEE An outstanding example of what may be accomplished by sheer persistence and determination, backed by sound judgment and right business principles, is afforded in the record of A. L. Adee, a member of the Vancouver Manufacturing Company, who, beginning his business career with a very limited capital, has gradually forged ahead and is now enjoying very gratifying success. He was born and reared in Monroe county, Michigan, and is a son of L. S. and Mary E. Adee, the former of whom was for many years engaged in farming in that state. About 1913 the father sold his interests in Michigan and came to Vancouver, where he and his wife spent their remaining years, both being now deceased. A. L. Adee spent his early life on his father's farm and then, going to the southern states, engaged in logging, having charge of a very large logging camp on the line between Arkansas and Louisiana for about one and a half years. He then took a contract to cut logs in Pike county, Arkansas, which occupied his attention for about four years, and in 1906 he came to Washington, locating in the northern part of Clark county, where he was employed at carpenter work. He followed that occupation for some time and then came to Vancouver and gave his attention to the building and selling of homes, which he continued until becoming interested in his present enterprise. This business had its inception in the Ruddick Novelty Company, which was established in 1914 and was operated for a year or more, when it went into bankruptcy. Mr. Adee had been associated in his building operations with O. D. Westcott, and they were among the creditors of the Ruddick company. In payment of their claim they took Ruddick's patent on a nursery chair and in 1917 they organized the Vancouver Manufacturing Company, manufacturing the nursery chairs about four years, on East Sixth street, where they had only about five thousand square feet of floor space and they did all of the work. By good management and wise economy they were fairly successful and in 1921 they branched out into the manufacture of other furniture, for which they then had room, as in the previous fall they had erected the building which they now occupy and which affords them about twenty thousand feet of floor space. They are giving their attention largely to the making of bedroom furniture, using native woods, mostly hemlock, with the exception of a few panels of hard wood. Their products are sold in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and California, and in the two former states they do their own selling, the territory being covered by Mr. Adee, while Mr. Westcott gives his personal attention to the factory. They employ from eighteen to twenty men and do an annual business of about seventy-five thousand dollars. Their success is remarkable when it is noted that they had but two hundred and fifty dollars cash capital when they started the business, which has been developed to its present size through the earnings of the business. In November, 1894, in Michigan, Mr. Adee was united in marriage to Miss Lottie V. Poe, a native of that state, and they are the parents of two children. Mildred is now the wife of J. A. Mullen of Long View, Washington, and by a former marriage has a son, Clyde L. Cecilia is the wife of W. A. Media of Vancouver, and they have a son, Milton D. Mr. Adee is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and his religious connection is with the Christian church. He is a man of great energy and alertness in business affairs, is loyal and true in every relation of life, and his many excellent personal qualities have commended him to the good opinion of all who know him. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.